In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a crystalline semiconductor layer includes preparing a semiconductor substrate and forming a preliminary active pattern on the semiconductor substrate. The preliminary active pattern includes a barrier pattern and a non-single crystal semiconductor pattern. A sacrificial non-single crystal semiconductor layer covers the preliminary active pattern and the semiconductor substrate. By crystallizing the sacrificial non-single crystal semiconductor layer and the non-single crystal semiconductor pattern, using the semiconductor substrate as a seed layer, the sacrificial non-single crystal semiconductor layer and the non-single crystal semiconductor pattern are changed to a sacrificial crystalline semiconductor layer and a crystalline semiconductor pattern, respectively. The crystalline semiconductor pattern and the barrier pattern constitute an active pattern. The sacrificial crystalline semiconductor layer is removed.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a protruding portion from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate; an active pattern on the protruding portion, the active pattern comprising a barrier pattern and a single crystalline semiconductor pattern on the barrier pattern; an insulating isolation layer on the semiconductor substrate; and a gate pattern on a top surface and sidewalls of the active pattern and on the top surface of the insulating isolation layer, the gate pattern crossing above the active pattern.
2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating isolation layer is formed on portions of the sidewalls of the protruding portion.
3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein a tope surface of the insulating isolation layer is disposed lower than a top surface of the barrier pattern.
4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3 , wherein the gate pattern is disposed on a portion of sidewalls of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern.
5. The semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein the gate pattern comprises a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer.
6. The semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein the gate insulating layer is formed on sidewalls of the protruding portion.
7. The semiconductor device according to claim 6 , wherein the gate electrode is formed on sidewalls of the protruding portion.
8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the insulating isolation layer is disposed lower than a bottom surface of the barrier pattern.
9. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier pattern is made of insulating materials.
10. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor substrate and the single crystalline semiconductor pattern have the same single crystalline structures.
11. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the active pattern and the protruding portion are island shapes.
12. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein sidewalls of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern and sidewalls of the protruding portion are aligned on a line.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 23, 2010
June 12, 2012
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